BALL! Booooo!

[Murraj1966]

Firstly, I understand that passion can get involved when the game is close and it's near the end and you'll call ball for almost anything.

However, some teams such as North last night, and Essendon all the time, will cry ball for every single tackle, whether the player has prior opportunity or not, and even when the player hands it off.
I'm starting to think that alot of fans have absolutely no idea of the interpretation of Holding the Ball, and when they don't get their way they'll boo and moan about it?

Is anyone with me thinking a LOT of fans need to brush up on the definition of holding the ball?

 

[saintsrfreak]

There are just some idiots at the footy that scream ball after every single tackle their team makes, regardless of the opportunity.

 

[tonk]

Most people know the rule, they just enjoy yelling BAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL, in unison with a mob of fellow travelers.

 

[Zarathustra]

The interpretation changes every second week without notice anyway, so you never know what you are gonna get. Might as well yell ball.

 

[AG]

One of the best sounds in the game. Love it when the crowd just goes nuts even if the free isn't there.

 

[Murraj1966]

It's a much better sound in moderation.
When you hear it 5 times in a row from 5 tackles in the space of 30 seconds all of which ended in the ball being disposed of legally, it loses any specialness it had previously.

 

[Simon_Nesbit]

Different stories for some, but for Hawk supporters much of the frustration is due to the following three scenarios.

Player takes possession and is immediately tackled, stands up and fights on but is unable to dispose. HTB!

Player takes possession and is immediately tackled, falls to ground and is unable to dispose. Ball-Up, or Push In the Back!

Player takes possession and fends off the tackler, runs 5m and is tackled, dropping the ball near a team-mate who runs off. Play On!

To me, common sense dictates that 1 and 3 are incorrect, but they are consistently applied that way. (The fact my team plays specifically towards scenario #1 just makes it worse)

 

[beez]

The interpretation changes every second week without notice anyway, so you never know what you are gonna get. Might as well yell ball.

No it doesn't

 

[aussierulesrules]

Some clearly don't know the rules and some are without doubt months, or years behind the current trends. They bitch and moan if someone who hasn't had prior opportunity is tackled and ends up dropping the ball, or not disposing of it correctly, but everyone who has followed footy closely this year knows they're giving a heap of leeway in that regard, to try to keep the game flowing. So if you haven't had prior op and are tackled you can drop it, or virtually (if not fully) throw it and you won't get pinged. Yet they're still crying out for a free and then you hear them complain about it for the next 30 seconds, so you know those ones are well and truly behind the times on the current trends.
As for those that cry "baaaalllllllll" for every single tackle, you really have to wonder about them. If any of them are fair-dinkum then WOW!

 

[Killer eagle]

It's a much better sound in moderation.
When you hear it 5 times in a row from 5 tackles in the space of 30 seconds all of which ended in the ball being disposed of legally, it loses any specialness it had previously.

I beg to differ when the game is close and five minutes to go the more noise the better. They can start yelling ball as the tackle is been layed and if he gets it out then yeah the crowd ball generally stops. I love a close tight finish where every tackle mark or run brings the crowd to life

 

[Gods_Son23]

It's a much better sound in moderation.
When you hear it 5 times in a row from 5 tackles in the space of 30 seconds all of which ended in the ball being disposed of legally, it loses any specialness it had previously.

I'm with ya Murraj, it can become annoying, but I would say every set of fans do it.

 

[tonk]

I beg to differ when the game is close and five minutes to go the more noise the better. They can start yelling ball as the tackle is been layed and if he gets it out then yeah the crowd ball generally stops. I love a close tight finish where every tackle mark or run brings the crowd to life

Exactly.

 

[Murraj1966]

I beg to differ when the game is close and five minutes to go the more noise the better. They can start yelling ball as the tackle is been layed and if he gets it out then yeah the crowd ball generally stops. I love a close tight finish where every tackle mark or run brings the crowd to life

Yeah I totally agree as I said in the OP, when the game is on the line in the last quarter you can't help but yell it for every off chance of a ball.

But in the first quarter, there's no point.

 

[Dagless]

Umpires always need a bit of convincin'

 

[vapours]

What really annoys me being a Freo supporter in Melbourne, is when the same people shouting out 'Ball!' for every single time a Freo player gets touched, they boo the umpires when theres a legitimate holding the ball decision in our favour and act as if their daughter has been r*ped by Andrew Demetriou.

And yes every team is as bad as each other.

 

[Hipster Doofus]

One of the best sounds in the game. Love it when the crowd just goes nuts even if the free isn't there.

Yes

 

[Total_Juddshanks]

I love it. Its probably one of the few umpiring decisions in any code where the crowd genuinely can influence the result.

There is an artform to it, and it is odd how tens of thousands of people collaboratively work towards the same outcome

1.) ratchet up the pressure on the umpires by a succession of BALL!! boooooooos" in general play.
2.) Go absolutely ballistic when the next stop play doesn't result in a HTB decision.
3.) Wait for umpire to pluck out something rubbish after the resulting bounce. BALL! YEAH!

Wouldn't work if the umps weren't so useless.

 

[Visions]

The part I hate is when they are still screaming "baaaalllllll" after the tackled player has spun out of a tackle, or has handballed or kicked the ball legitimately. Shows that many people out there have no idea about rules.

 

[Underdog]

Ridiculous thread.

It also assumes everyone has the same view as per watching on TV whereas in reality people have a 360 degree view at various distances and with players obstructing views. It also assumes everyone has very good eyesight.

 

[GoTheSwannies]

Player takes possession and fends off the tackler, runs 5m and is tackled, dropping the ball near a team-mate who runs off. Play On!

That's a pet hate of mine, when the ump doesn't call it and it spills for a teammate who runs off with it. The other issue, sometimes 2 players will make the tackle simultaneously, all the player has to is drop the ball and a free teammate can run off with it, even if it wasn't disposed of correctly, these really need to be umpire correctly.

 

[Lord Nicholson]

Being annoyed by people yelling "Ball!" at the football.

I've heard it all.

 

[J_Moore]

One of the best sounds in the game. Love it when the crowd just goes nuts even if the free isn't there.

Correct.

Made better if you spill your beer on those around you while jumping up to make the signal.

 

[Vtorians]

Different stories for some, but for Hawk supporters much of the frustration is due to the following three scenarios.

Player takes possession and is immediately tackled, stands up and fights on but is unable to dispose. HTB!

Player takes possession and is immediately tackled, falls to ground and is unable to dispose. Ball-Up, or Push In the Back!

Player takes possession and fends off the tackler, runs 5m and is tackled, dropping the ball near a team-mate who runs off. Play On!

To me, common sense dictates that 1 and 3 are incorrect, but they are consistently applied that way. (The fact my team plays specifically towards scenario #1 just makes it worse)

Good call the interpretation changes constantly

I also think sometimes very early on the crowd senses they will get nothing from the umps, they make the call constantly so that when you do finally get one go your way you can really give the maggots the big bronx cheer.
95% of people know the rules, it's just part of our footy culture to try & help out your team, no matter if it's a realistic call or not.

 

[jive]

I've noticed Carlton supporters are probably the biggest culprit of yelling BALLL for every single tackle. Then stand and throw their hands in the air in a flustered manner when ball up is called. Exasperating.

 

[karix]

This kind of bias isn't unique to "Ball" and it's not even unique to AFL.

I watched the Reds final with a bunch of Maori's who were dead set trying to convince me that every time a Reds player went to ground it was knock on and every pass the Red threw was forward..

You just yell something to feel involved and support your team. The accuracy of your call has nothing to do with it.